Guest blog by Lorna Penney

Hello, I do hope that all is well with you on this bright and beautiful spring morning.

I walked in Pollok park yesterday and it was gorgeous to see snowdrops, crocus, a buzzard and hear a woodpecker drumming. I am really feeling the movement out of my own deep, dark Wintry, Watery depths as the rising energy of Spring, of Wood, becomes available in and around me.

This linking of Winter to Water and Spring to Wood comes from the correspondances provided by the Five Element System of Dynamics, which is used by a whole range of practitioners  Acupuncturists,  Herbalists, Yoga Teachers, Massage therapists, Psycotherapists and so on, it provides a nuanced, detailed description of the relationships between our internal nature and the external nature outside of us. It is a beautiful system, that although rooted in the work of the ancient healers of China, is extremely contemporary in the way it supports a ‘fractal’ or ‘holographic’ view of the universe as does current quantum physics research, making it extremely practical and useful as a way to meet the challenges and demands of out busy day to day lives as modern people.

I make use of this system in a range of ways both within my personal practice and in my professional offerings and am continually inspired, ignited and supported by the breadth and depth of its potential applications.

I am currently preparing for offering my extended Spring Workshop and I thought you might enjoy hearing about some of the ‘correspondances’ that are going to be explored in that space, so that you can connect to your own Spring Awakening more fully. I often feel the strength of the seasonal transition from Water / Winter, to Wood / Spring more dynamically / dramatically, than any of the other seasonal transition points of the year. I notice how this is echoed in the vibrancy of the nature around me too; the fierce singing of the birds’ dawn welcoming as they catch the breath of Spring, is so different from the way the greet Winter’s dawns; the sudden sight of delicate snowdrops and crocus thrusting up and out of their secure Winter space to become visible in the crisp bright frosty, possibly snowy, above ground world, always feels such a powerful invitation for me to likewise come in to visibility with the seeds I have held in my depths over the dark quiet days of Winter, with my delicate vulnerability in place.

The season of Spring and the energy of Wood is about putting plans in to action, definition, turning our attention outwards from the depth of Winter’s descent…..when our Wood energy is in balance we are able to stand in the breadth and depth of our own unique vision of life, we hold our benevolence close and are able to initiate our actions with confidence and precision; we have the momentum to see things through to completion. When our Wood is out of balance we can be frustrated in ourself and at the same time frustrating to others, as we can struggle to settle in to any decision, meaning that moving forward coherently and creatively becomes impossible, because we are not able to trust the vulnerability that is the characteristic of this kind of change. By tending our Wood energy with kindness, specificity, commitment and visibility in word and deed, we are able to find the nourishment that enables our roots to hold firm as we grow confidently towards our own uniqueness.

May your transition in to Spring be invigorating, bright and may all you are putting in to place vigorously flourish.

 Lorna Penney (Breath, Body, Voice Teacher-Practitoner) lorna@dynamicalignment.co.uk

I offer Extended Seasonal Workshops at ‘In the Moment’ throughout the year. Dates for 2013’s offerings are –

Spring / Wood 17th, 18th, 19th March

Summer / Inner-Fire 16th, 17th, 18th, June

Summer / Outer-Fire 20th, 21st, 22nd June

Harvest / Earth 1st, 2nd, 3rd September

Autumn / Metal 3rd, 4th, 5th November.

“Jude seems to “read” your  body, instinctively getting to the real heart of an issue – whether it’s the source of tension, pain, injury or emotion. This has moments of discomfort as she helps you to reveal what your body is telling you -but it feels blissfully liberating…”

People choose to come for a one to one yoga session for all sorts of reasons. Often, they are working with a particular issue like an old injury or a posture that feels inaccesible to them. Often, people come because they recognise they are at a point with their yoga practice where they want to delve a little deeper and have a personalised practice.

The way I work one to one is from the ground up, exploring your relationship to gravity, to the Earth, to your foundation. We explore space, lightness and freedom in the body, slowly unravelling sources of tension to find a practice that is truly personal. I draw on all of my therapeutic training  in yoga, massage, healing, spiritual guidance  and energy work to assist you in  build a deeper, more connected and  more loving relationship with your body as it is – not some future “ideal”. This may be something that is completely different to the practice you follow in group classes. It can also feel challenging as we begin to work more deeply, releasing tension and emotion. What emerges is openess and release.

If you are open to an exploration, and ready for the freedom this will bring to your body,  then this practice is for you.

Cost – £40 – for about an hour and a quarter. I will keep detailed notes as we work and type this up for you into a personalised practice plan.

Contact me to book a session  or call the number at the top of the page.